When is the Best Time of Year to Move House in Perth?

21 September 2026

If you have the flexibility to choose, autumn is generally the best time of year to move house in Perth. From March through to May, the worst of the summer heat has usually passed, moving conditions are more comfortable, and you can often find more flexibility around dates than during busy summer periods. 

That said, the best time to move house in Perth depends on what matters most to you. You might be trying to keep moving costs down, avoid hauling boxes around on a scorching summer day, or time the move around school holidays so the kids can start a new term without disruption.

The season is only part of the decision, too. The day of the week and even the time of the month can make a noticeable difference to how easy it is to secure your preferred moving date.

In this guide, we’ll break down the pros and cons of moving in each Perth season, then look at the weekday and monthly timing factors worth considering before you lock in a date.

The Quick Answer

If you just want the short version, here is how the four seasons generally compare for a Perth move.

Season Best for Worth knowing
Autumn (Mar–May) Best overall balance of weather and availability  Mild conditions and less exposure to summer school-holiday demand make this the strongest all-round choice. Public holidays around Easter and ANZAC Day can affect availability.
Winter (Jun–Aug) Potentially better value and more choice of dates  Sits outside the busy summer school-holiday period, but rain and shorter daylight hours can make planning a little more important. 
Spring (Sep–Nov) Comfortable weather without the summer rush A good alternative to autumn, although demand can start building as you get closer to December.
Summer (Dec–Feb) Families working around school holidays Popular and convenient for school timing, but hotter conditions and peak-period demand can mean tighter availability, with additional loading possible on some dates. 

Season by Season: What to Expect

Each Perth season comes with its own trade-offs. Weather matters, but so do school holidays, demand for removalists and how much flexibility you have around your moving date.

Summer (December – February)

Summer is one of the busiest times to move house in Perth. The long school break gives families a chance to relocate without changing schools or disrupting a term, but that convenience also means popular dates can book out faster. KEYS’ current Perth removalist pricing guide notes that removalist availability can be limited during school holidays and recommends checking for any peak-period loading when confirming a quote. 

For families, that can still make summer the most practical option. WA public schools finish Term 4 in December and return for Term 1 around the beginning of February, creating a natural window for families who want to be settled before the new school year starts.

Then there’s the heat.

Bureau of Meteorology climate data for Perth Metro puts the average daily maximum at 29.6°C in December, 31.4°C in January and 31.7°C in February. Hotter days can make a full day of lifting, carrying and loading considerably more demanding, particularly when there are stairs, long carries or limited shade involved.

For heat-sensitive belongings such as candles, vinyl records and some electronics, avoid leaving boxes unnecessarily in direct sun or a hot vehicle. Proper packing and an organised loading plan can also reduce the amount of time your belongings spend exposed to summer conditions. 

If summer is your only option, there are a few simple ways to make it easier. Book well ahead, ask whether an early-morning start is available, keep plenty of water on hand and tell your removalist about any belongings that may need extra protection from the heat.

Summer isn’t a bad time to move. It just rewards a little more planning than the milder parts of the year.

Autumn (March – May)

For Perth movers who have flexibility around their date, autumn offers some of the most comfortable moving conditions of the year. The intense summer heat starts to ease, while you are still ahead of the wetter part of Perth’s winter.

The change in conditions across autumn is quite noticeable. Bureau of Meteorology climate data shows average maximum temperatures in Perth falling from around 30°C in March to the low 20s by May. That can make a long day of loading, carrying and unpacking considerably more comfortable than doing the same job in the middle of summer. 

Autumn also comes after the busy summer and school-holiday period. If your dates are flexible, that can give you more choice when booking a removalist and help you avoid some of the demand associated with peak moving periods. KEYS’ Perth pricing guide identifies the move date and availability around peak periods as factors that can affect the final cost of a move, so it is worth comparing dates rather than assuming every day will be priced the same.

There is one small catch: autumn contains several public holidays. Easter and ANZAC Day both fall during this period, and long weekends can make particular dates more sought after or affect normal operating arrangements. If you are planning a move around one of them, check availability and pricing early rather than leaving the booking until the last minute.

Comfortable weather, less peak-season pressure and greater flexibility make autumn a strong all-round choice for Perth movers who have some control over their date. 

Winter (June – August)

Winter is worth considering if flexibility and avoiding peak-demand dates are priorities. It sits outside Perth’s busy summer school-holiday period, so there can be more scope to compare dates. Availability can tighten during school holidays and other high-demand dates, so winter is worth considering if your move isn’t tied to a strict deadline. 

The good news is that Perth winters are relatively mild temperature-wise. Bureau of Meteorology data for Perth Metro shows average maximum temperatures of 19.5°C in June, 18.5°C in July and 19.2°C in August. For a day spent carrying furniture and boxes, that can be much more comfortable than working through summer heat.

Rain is the trade-off. Perth winter isn’t generally dry; it is actually the wettest part of the year. According to Bureau of Meteorology climate averages for Perth Metro, Perth receives around 127 mm of rain in June, 147 mm in July and 125 mm in August, making winter by far the wetter part of the year. 

That doesn’t make winter a bad time to move. It just means keeping an eye on the forecast and having a wet-weather plan. Make sure boxes are properly sealed, protect floors around entrances, and ask your removalist how furniture and other belongings will be covered while they’re being carried between the house and truck.

You also have fewer daylight hours to play with, so starting reasonably early can give you more breathing room if a larger move takes longer than expected.

If flexibility matters to you and you’re comfortable planning around the possibility of rain, winter is well worth considering. 

Spring (September – November)

Spring is another good option if autumn doesn’t line up with your plans. Early and mid-spring sit ahead of the summer school-holiday period, giving you another window to move before end-of-year demand starts building. 

According to Bureau of Meteorology climate averages, the weather becomes progressively warmer across spring, with average maximum temperatures rising from around 21°C in September to around 27°C by November. That generally makes spring comfortable for loading, carrying and unpacking, although warmer days become more likely later in the season. 

If you’re aiming for late November, it makes sense to lock your removalist in earlier rather than assuming your preferred date will still be available. 

For many movers, spring is a good alternative to autumn: pleasant conditions, reasonable flexibility and fewer of the heat-related challenges that come with a Perth summer. 

Beyond the Season: Day of the Week and Day of the Month Matter Too 

Choosing the right season helps, but it isn’t the only way to make your move easier or cheaper. The day of the week and the point in the month can also have a noticeable influence on availability and pricing. 

Day of the Week

If you have some flexibility, a mid-week move is often worth considering. 

Weekends are popular because they allow people to move without taking time off work, but that also means removalists can book out faster. KEYS’ 2026 Perth pricing guide notes that rates can be 15–25% higher on Fridays and weekends, while mid-week moves are generally cheaper and easier to secure.

A Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday move can therefore give you more choice and potentially reduce the cost compared with booking a Saturday. There is another practical benefit too: if something unexpected comes up with your real estate agent, settlement, utilities or another service provider, it is usually easier to sort it out during normal weekday business hours. 

If you’re comparing dates for a local Perth move, this is worth discussing when you request your quote rather than automatically defaulting to Saturday. 

Day of the Month

The final few days of the month can also be harder to book. KEYS’ pricing guide identifies end-of-month dates as periods where removalist availability can become limited, so it is worth avoiding them if you are free to choose. 

Moving closer to the middle of the month can give you more flexibility and make it easier to secure your preferred date. 

If your moving date is completely flexible, the ideal combination looks something like this: 

Autumn + mid-week + mid-month.

You won’t always be able to line up all three, but even changing one can help. If the season is fixed, choosing a Wednesday instead of a Saturday or avoiding the final few days of the month can still make planning your move considerably easier.

What If You Don’t Have a Choice?

Of course, most people don’t have complete freedom to choose their moving date. 

Your move might be tied to a settlement date, the end of a lease, a new job, school commitments or the date you can access your new home. If that puts you in the middle of January or on the last Saturday of the month, it doesn’t mean you’re setting yourself up for a difficult move.

It just means planning ahead becomes more important.

If you’re moving during summer, book your removalist as early as you can and ask whether an early-morning start is available. That can help you get the heaviest part of the move underway before the hottest part of the day. It is also worth letting your removalist know about any belongings that may need extra care in hot conditions.

If your move falls on a weekend, during the school holidays or around the end of the month, give yourself more lead time when booking. These are the kinds of dates where availability can tighten, so leaving it until the last minute can limit your options.

This is also where good planning matters more than chasing the “perfect” date. With more than 30 years of moving experience, KEYS plans relocations around practical factors such as timing, inventory, property access and storage requirements. A dedicated move manager can coordinate those details when your moving date itself isn’t flexible. 

The timing advice in this guide is most useful when you have flexibility. If you don’t, focus on what you can control: book early, communicate your requirements clearly, get organised before moving day and give yourself enough time to prepare.

A well-planned move on a busy date can still be a very good move.

When Is the Best Time to Move House in Perth?

If you have the flexibility to choose, autumn is the standout option for most Perth moves. The weather is more comfortable than summer, and you have a better chance of avoiding some of the peak-demand periods associated with summer. 

If keeping costs down is your main priority, winter is also worth comparing, particularly if you can combine it with a mid-week, mid-month booking. Perth’s winter temperatures are relatively mild, and dates outside peak summer periods can give you more flexibility. 

Whatever season you move in, the same timing rule still applies: mid-week and mid-month are usually worth prioritising if your schedule allows. 

And if your move date is already locked in, don’t stress too much about whether you’ve picked the “perfect” season. Good planning, enough lead time and the right removalist can still make the move considerably easier. 

Whenever you’re moving, KEYS can help you plan your Perth move around the best possible dates for cost and convenience. 

FAQs

What is the cheapest time of year to move house in Perth?

Winter can be a good time to compare moving dates if cost is your main priority because it sits outside the busy summer school-holiday period. However, there isn’t a fixed winter discount: your exact price still depends on the date, inventory, access, distance and services required. 

You can potentially improve your chances of a lower-cost booking further by choosing a mid-week, mid-month date rather than a Friday, weekend or end-of-month move.

Is it better to move house in summer or winter in Perth?

It depends on what matters most to you.

Winter can offer more flexibility outside peak summer dates, while summer is often more convenient for families working around the school calendar. 

If you do move in summer, hotter weather and demand around popular school-holiday dates make booking early and requesting an early start particularly useful. 

What day of the week is cheapest to hire a removalist?

A Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday is generally a good choice if you’re trying to keep moving costs down.

KEYS’ 2026 Perth pricing guide notes that Friday and weekend rates can be 15–25% higher, depending on the removalist and booking conditions. Mid-week dates can also be easier to secure because fewer people want to take time away from work to move.

How much more expensive is it to move house in summer in Perth?

There isn’t one reliable percentage that applies to every summer move in Perth. The final cost depends on factors such as your moving date, the size of the move, access, distance, packing requirements and the removalist’s availability.

KEYS’ current pricing information identifies school holidays and other peak-demand periods as times when availability may tighten, but it does not publish a fixed summer surcharge. If you’re moving between December and February, the best approach is to request a quote early and ask whether any peak-period pricing applies to your preferred date.